Snatch-block.



No. 686,|54. l Patnted Nav. 5, l90l.

' W. SMITH.

SNATCH BLOCK.

(Application led Mar. 22, 1901.)

(No Model.)

W2K/@65565 fraz/@@5014 77? 7M maf/@- Mm* 155/ /zz efarrg NITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

VILLIAM SMITH, OF LA CRESCENT, MINNESOTA.

SNATCH-BLOCK.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letterslatent N o. 686,154, dated November 5, 1901.

Application filed March 22,1901. Serial No. 52,278. (No model.)

To @ZZ wwm, it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM SMITH, a citizen of the United States, residing at La Crescent, in the county of Houston and State of Minnesota, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Snatch Blocks, of which the following is a specication.

The object of my invention is to improve the construction of the casing for the sheave so that a rope can be more readilyinserted in the block, more easily removed, and more securely retained in place while the device is in use, and to produce a form of casing that can be made suiciently strong without being too heavy.

In the common form of snatch-block the casing has an opening in one cheek and a link portion and hook for covering the opening; butin use it frequently occurs that such link portion and hook are not a sufficient `guard and guide for the rope to keep it on the sheave. The link and hook are liable to be disengaged from their fastenings, and the open link and hook are too frail for heavy pulling.

In my new construction I employ separate cheek-pieces, which are hung on the pintle of the sheave to constitute the casing, and the outer extremity of one casing member is bent inward to form an arm for entering a recess in the body of the other member, and to connect the extreme ends of the two casings a hitch-rope is attached ona swivel to the arm connecting the casings in line with the dianietric axis of the sheave and is adapted by shifting its position from one to the other side of a lug extending inward from the extremity of the recessed casing member to lock or unlock the casing members. Such devices provide an efficient and serviceable casing for the sheave and enable the component members to be readily locked together or unlocked when desired for the insertion or removal of the pull-rope into or from the block.

My improvements are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which@l Figure 1 shows in elevation a snatch-block embodying my improvements, the casing members being shown in their locked positions and the block ready for use. Fig. 2 is a perspective view showing the casing members disconnected and in position to permit the rope to be removed from the sheave and out of the block.

In such drawings, l designates the sheave, 2 the pintle, 3 the pull-rope on the sheave, and f1 and 5, respectively, the two casing members independently pivoted to the pintle 2. The cheek 4 has its lower portion extended inward at a right angle to its body to form an arm 6. On the inner end of the arm is a pin-like projection 7, having a head 8 for engaging the opposite cheek. The cheek 5 has a recess 9 in its body and shoulders 10 at the entrance to the recess to form a suitable socket `for receiving the locking-bolt 7 8. Such socket permits the locking-bolt to enter when the cheek ft is turned toward the cheek 5 on a parallel plane, but prevents movement at an angle to such plane. In the middle of the arm is an opening 11 for the insertion of a hitch-rope 12 in line with the diametric axis of the sheave. The end of the rope 12 may be attached to a head or other device 13 for retaining it in the socket in the arm and allowing the hitch rope to revolve, as on a swivel.

A At the lower extremity of the cheek 5 is an inward lu g or projection 14, substantially in the median line of the two casing members. This lug enables the two casing members to be locked together by means of the hitchrope. When the locking-bolt is in its socket and the hitch-rope is placed in rear ofthe lug 14, as shown in Fig. 1, the parts will be firmly locked while the device is under tension. Upon cessation of tension the hitch-rope may be moved to the front of the lug and the cheeks can be separated in lthe manner indicated in Fig. 2.

I do not wish to limit myself to the precise construction and arrangement of devices shown and described, but wish to include modifications and variations of structure operating upon the same principle. An instance of such variation of structure would be the substitution of a swiveled hook for the hitchrope. v

Having described my invention, what I claim, and wish to patent, is-

l. In a snatch-block, the combination with the sheave pintle, of independent cheekpieces pivoted thereon, a projection on one cheek, a corresponding socket in the other cheek arranged to receive said projection, a hitch-rope attached to one of said cheeks, and a lug on the other for engaging the rope, for the purpose set forth.

2. In a snatch-block, the combination with the sheave pintle, of independent cheekpieces pivoted thereon, a locking-head projecting from one cheek toward the other, a suitable socket in the latter to receive such head, a lng projecting inward from said socketed cheek, and a hitch-rope attached to the other cheek in position to contact with said lug while the devices are under tension, substantially as set forth.

3. In a snatch-block, the combination with the sheave pintle, of independent cheekpieces pivoted thereon, a projection on one cheek adapted to engage with the other cheek and having a hole through its center in line with the center of the sheave, and a hitchrope swiveled in the hole in said projection, substantially as set forth.

4. In a snatch-block, the combination with the sheave pintle, of independent cheekpieces pivoted thereon, a projection on one cheek, a corresponding socket in the other cheek arranged 1o receive said projection, a hitch-rope attached to one of said cheeks, and means provided on the other cheek for engaging .said rope to lock the cheeks together, substantially as set forth.

5. In a snatch-block, the combination with the sheave-pintle, of cheek-pieces independently pivoted thereon, a projection on one cheek arranged to engage the other cheek, a hitch-rope connected to such projection, and means provided on the other cheek for engaging the rope to hold the cheeks from turning on the pintle While the devices are under tension, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 18th day of February, 1901.

WILLIAM SMITH.

In presence of WALTER C. WINTER, FRANK WINTER. 

